[http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/ GNU Gnash] is a free (libre) alternative to Adobe Flash Player. It is available both as a standalone player for desktop computers and embedded devices, as well as a browser plugin, and supports the SWF format up to version 7 (with versions 8 and 9 under development) and about 80% of ActionScript 2.0.

+

* The NPAPI version can be [[install]]ed with the {{Pkg|flashplugin}} package.

+

* The PPAPI version can be [[install]]ed with the {{Pkg|pepper-flash}} package.

−

GNU Gnash can be [[Pacman|installed]] with the package {{Pkg|gnash-gtk}}, available in the [[official repositories]].

+

{{Note|

+

* Some Flash apps may require the {{AUR|ttf-ms-fonts}} package in order to properly render text.

+

* The {{AUR|freshplayerplugin}} package provides an ''experimental'' adapter to use {{Pkg|pepper-flash}} with NPAPI based browsers like Firefox. It can be configured (e.g. for enabling HW-acceleration) by copying {{ic|/usr/share/freshplayerplugin/freshwrapper.conf.example}} to {{ic|~/.config/freshwrapper.conf}}.

+

}}

−

{{Note|If you find that Gnash doesn't work properly right out of the box, then you may also need to [[pacman|install]] {{Pkg|gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg}} from the [[official repositories]].}}

+

==== Upgrade ====

−

=== Lightspark ===

+

If you are using [[Firefox]], please make sure to follow [[Firefox#Firefox detects the wrong version of my plugin|this instruction first]].

+

+

==== Configuration ====

−

[http://lightspark.github.com/ Lightspark] is another attempt to provide a free alternative to Adobe Flash aimed at supporting newer Flash formats. Although it is still very much in development, it supports some [https://github.com/lightspark/lightspark/wiki/Site-Support popular sites].

Lightspark can be [[Pacman|installed]] with the package {{AUR|lightspark}} or {{AUR|lightspark-git}}, available in the [[AUR]].

+

You can also use the Flash settings file {{ic|/etc/adobe/mms.cfg}}. Gentoo has an extensively commented [http://sources.gentoo.org/cgi-bin/viewvc.cgi/gentoo-x86/www-plugins/adobe-flash/files/mms.cfg example mms.cfg].

−

=== Adobe Flash Player ===

+

To enable video decoding with [[hardware video acceleration]], add/uncomment the following line:

+

EnableLinuxHWVideoDecode = 1

+

It might also be required to add/uncomment the following line:

+

OverrideGPUValidation = 1

−

[[pacman|Install]] {{Pkg|flashplugin}} from the official repositories.

+

==== Multiple monitor full-screen fix ====

−

{{Note|

−

* Adobe Flash Player for Linux using the NPAPI was [http://blogs.adobe.com/flashplayer/2012/02/adobe-and-google-partnering-for-flash-player-on-linux.html discontinued by Adobe], although security updates for version 11.2 will be provided for another 5 years by Adobe (i.e. 2017). Adobe will, however, release new versions of PPAPI version of the plugin, shipped with Google Chrome. See [[Chromium#Adobe (Pepper plugin API)]] for more information.

−

* The Adobe Flash Player may also require {{AUR|ttf-ms-fonts}} from the [[AUR]] in order to properly render text.

−

* For hardware acceleration on Intel/AMD, you can use {{AUR|libvdpau-va-gl}} — VAAPI backend for VDPAU. For AMD you should also install {{AUR|xvba-video}}

−

}}

−

==== Configuration ====

+

When using a multiple monitor setup, or swapping between virtual desktops, it is possible to lose focus on a fullscreen flash window. In such a case, the adobe flash-plugin will automatically exit full-screen mode. This may not be to your liking.

−

To change the preferences (privacy settings, resource usage, etc.) of Flash Player, right click on any embedded Flash content and choose ''Settings'' from the menu, or go to the [http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager.html Macromedia website]. There, a Flash animation will give you access to your local settings.

+

Unfortunately, this behavior is hard coded into the binary. In order to change this behavior it is necessary to alter the binary.

−

You can also use the Flash settings file {{ic|/etc/adobe/mms.cfg}}. An example configuration:

+

Fixing this issue only works for the NPAPI plugin and this issue can be fixed via 2 ways.

−

{{hc|/etc/adobe/mms.cfg|<nowiki>

−

# Adobe player settings

−

AVHardwareDisable = 0

−

FullScreenDisable = 0

−

LocalFileReadDisable = 1

−

FileDownloadDisable = 1

−

FileUploadDisable = 1

−

LocalStorageLimit = 1

−

ThirdPartyStorage = 1

−

AssetCacheSize = 10

−

AutoUpdateDisable = 1

−

LegacyDomainMatching = 0

−

LocalFileLegacyAction = 0

−

AllowUserLocalTrust = 0

−

# DisableSockets = 1

−

OverrideGPUValidation = 1

−

</nowiki>}}

−

You can also refer to the [http://sources.gentoo.org/cgi-bin/viewvc.cgi/gentoo-x86/www-plugins/adobe-flash/files/mms.cfg mms.cfg from Gentoo], which is extensively commented.

:Using the hex editor find the string {{ic|_NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW}}. In ghex the readable string is on the right hand side of the window, and the hex is on the left, you are trying to locate the readable string. It should be easy to find using a search function.

−

# cp /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libflashplayer.so ~/

−

Install {{Pkg|wine}} from the official repositories.

+

:Upon finding {{ic|_NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW}} rewrite the line, but '''do not''' change the length of the line, for example {{ic|_NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW}} becomes {{ic|_XET_ACTIVE_WINDOW}}.

−

Download {{ic|Flash Fullscreen Patcher.zip}} from [http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/304807-How-to-remove-annoying-Press-Esc-to-message-in-Flash-Video this page], extract and execute with {{ic|wine}}:

+

:Save the binary, and restart any processes using the plugin (as this will crash any instance of the plugin in use.)

Patch {{ic|libflashplayer.so}} (the one from your home directory) using the GUI.

+

See [[Flash DRM content]].

−

Copy the patched Flash Player back to the plugins directory:

−

# cp ~/libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/

−

==== Fullscreen fix for Flash and Firefox in GNOME 3 ====

+

=== Shumway ===

−

Install {{Pkg|devilspie}} from the official repositories.

+

[http://mozilla.github.io/shumway/ Shumway] is a [https://github.com/mozilla/shumway/issues/2420 discontinued] HTML5 technology experiment that explores building a faithful and efficient renderer for the SWF file format without native code assistance. The plugin may be installed directly from [http://mozilla.github.io/shumway/ Mozilla's github.io site].

−

Create the {{ic|~/.devilspie}} directory and the relevant config:

+

=== Gnash ===

−

# mkdir ~/.devilspie

+

[[Wikipedia:Gnash (software)|Gnash]] is a free (libre) alternative to Adobe Flash Player. It is available both as a standalone player for desktop computers and embedded devices, as well as a browser plugin, and supports the SWF format up to version 7 (with versions 8 and 9 under development) and about 80% of ActionScript 2.0.

[http://lightspark.github.com/ Lightspark] is another attempt to provide a free alternative to Adobe Flash aimed at supporting newer Flash formats. Lightspark has the ability to fall back on Gnash for old content, which enables users to install both and enjoy wider coverage. Although it is still very much in development, it supports some [https://github.com/lightspark/lightspark/wiki/Site-Support popular sites].

−

For this to work in Chrome / Chromium, {{ic|"plugin-container"}} needs to be replaced by {{ic|"exe"}} in the script above.

+

Lightspark can be [[install]]ed with the {{AUR|lightspark-git}} package.

== PDF viewer ==

== PDF viewer ==

Line 109:

Line 99:

=== PDF.js ===

=== PDF.js ===

−

{{Wikipedia|Pdf.js}}

+

[https://github.com/mozilla/pdf.js PDF.js] is a PDF renderer created by Mozilla and built using HTML5 technologies.

−

[https://mozillalabs.com/en-US/pdfjs/ PDF.js] is a PDF renderer created by Mozilla and built using HTML5 technologies. It is currently only available as a Firefox [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/pdfjs/ plugin].

+

It is included in [[Firefox]].

+

+

For [[Chromium]] and Google Chrome it is available as extension in the [https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pdf-viewer/oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm Chrome Web Store].

=== External PDF viewers ===

=== External PDF viewers ===

−

To use an external PDF viewer you need [[#MozPlugger]] or [[#kpartsplugin]].

+

To use an external PDF viewer you need [[#MozPlugger]].

If you want to use MozPlugger with Evince, for example, you have to find the lines containing {{ic|pdf}} in the {{ic|/etc/mozpluggerrc}} file and modify the corresponding line after {{ic|GV()}} as below:

If you want to use MozPlugger with Evince, for example, you have to find the lines containing {{ic|pdf}} in the {{ic|/etc/mozpluggerrc}} file and modify the corresponding line after {{ic|GV()}} as below:

Line 121:

Line 113:

(replace {{ic|evince}} with something else if it is not your viewer of choice).

(replace {{ic|evince}} with something else if it is not your viewer of choice).

−

If this isn't enough, you may need to change 2 values in {{ic|about:config}}:

+

If this is not enough, you may need to change 2 values in {{ic|about:config}}:

Due to licensing restrictions, Adobe Reader cannot be distributed from any of the official Arch Linux repositories. There are versions available in the [[AUR]]. Please note that no matter how many votes it receives, Adobe Reader will never be included in the [[official repositories]].

+

Third-party online payment sites in China tend to use a "security plugin" for the password field.

+

They are not supported anymore in Firefox 52+. You could try {{AUR|palemoon}} for NPAPI support.

+

* {{AUR|upeditor}} for UnionPay Online Pay (银联在线支付).

+

* {{AUR|aliedit}} for Alipay (支付宝).

−

Also, there are [https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?O=0&K=acroread-&do_Search=Go localizations] available in many languages.

+

== Citrix ==

−

==== 32-bit ====

+

See [[Citrix]].

−

Adobe Acrobat Reader is only available as a 32-bit binary. It can be installed with the {{AUR|acroread}} package, available in the [[AUR]].

+

== Java (IcedTea) ==

−

This package installs the Acrobat Reader application as well as the Firefox plugin. Note that hardware-assisted rendering is unavailable under Linux (at least using a Geforce 8600GTS with driver version 185.18.14).

+

{{Note|Both Java plugins are NPAPI-only and thus do not work in Chromium, Opera and Firefox [https://support.mozilla.org/t5/Problems-with-add-ons-plugins-or/Why-do-Java-Silverlight-Adobe-Acrobat-and-other-plugins-no/ta-p/31069 52 and newer]. [[Firefox#Installing|Firefox ESR]] will continue supporting NPAPI plugins until early 2018.}}

−

==== 64-bit ====

+

To enable [[Java]] support in your browser, you have two options: the open-source [[Wikipedia:OpenJDK|OpenJDK]] (recommended) or Oracle's proprietary version. For details about why OpenJDK is recommended see [https://mailman.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-general/2011-August/021671.html].

−

There is yet to be an official 64-bit version of Adobe Reader.

+

To use OpenJDK, you have to install the [http://icedtea.classpath.org/wiki/Main_Page IcedTea] browser plugin, {{Pkg|icedtea-web}}.

−

To use it in a 64-bit environment, you can:

+

If you want to use Oracle's JRE, install the {{AUR|jre}} package.

−

* Follow [[Install bundled 32-bit system in Arch64|this guide]] originally posted in the forums. It involves creating a chrooted environment that could be reused for other 32-bit only applications.

−

* Install {{AUR|acroread}} (with all its 32-bit dependencies) from [[AUR]]. Be advised that the [[Firefox]] plugin cannot be used ''directly'' with this binary -- it will not load in the 64-bit browser. To load it install the {{Pkg|nspluginwrapper}} package from the official [[Multilib|[multilib]]] repository and run:

+

{{Note|If you experience any problems with the Java plugin (e.g. it is not recognized by the browser), you can try this [[#Plugins_are_installed_but_not_working|solution]].}}

−

$ nspluginwrapper -v -a -i

−

as a normal user. This checks the plugin directory and links the plugins as needed.

−

== Citrix ==

+

== Pipelight ==

+

+

See [[Pipelight]].

−

{{Box||See the main article: [[Citrix]]|#E5E5FF|#FCFCFC}}

+

== Multimedia playback ==

−

== Java (IcedTea) ==

+

Many browsers support the [[GStreamer]] framework to play multimedia inside HTML5 {{ic|<audio>}} and {{ic|<video>}} elements. Check the optional dependencies of the browser package (or of the web engine, e.g. {{Pkg|webkit2gtk}} or {{Pkg|qt5-webkit}}) to see if GStreamer is supported. See [[GStreamer#Installation]] for the description of each plugin.

−

To enable [[Java]] support in your browser, you have two options: the open-source [[Wikipedia:OpenJDK|OpenJDK]] (recommended) or Oracle's proprietary version. For details about why OpenJDK is recommended see [https://mailman.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-general/2011-August/021671.html this].

+

=== Other plugins ===

−

To use OpenJDK, you have to install the [http://icedtea.classpath.org/wiki/Main_Page IcedTea] browser plugin:

Install [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/watch-with-mpv/ Watch with MPV] for playback of [http://rg3.github.io/youtube-dl/supportedsites.html supported sites] with an external player of your choice ([[mpv]] by default). Add {{ic|1=--player-operation-mode=pseudo-gui}} to ''Additional player parameters'' for websites with audio only streams.

−

=== MozPlugger ===

+

== Google Hangouts ==

+

{{Note|

+

* This plugin is not required when using Chromium

+

* Hangouts calling doesn't work in Firefox as of March 2017.[https://gsuiteupdates.googleblog.com/2017/02/google-hangouts-temporary-issues-with-firefox.html]

+

}}

+

Hangouts plugin can be installed with the {{AUR|google-talkplugin}} package.

+

Hangouts is a messenger by Google, that allows you to make video call between 15 people simultaneously, or share your screen with others.

−

MozPlugger can be installed with the {{AUR|mozplugger}} package, respectively {{AUR|mozplugger-chromium}}, available in the [[AUR]].

+

== MozPlugger ==

+

+

MozPlugger can be installed with the {{AUR|mozplugger}} package.

[http://mozplugger.mozdev.org/ MozPlugger] is a Mozilla plugin which can show many types of multimedia inside your browser. To accomplish this, it uses external programs such as MPlayer, xine, Evince, OpenOffice, TiMidity, etc. To modify or add applications to be used by MozPlugger just modify the {{ic|/etc/mozpluggerrc}} file.

[http://mozplugger.mozdev.org/ MozPlugger] is a Mozilla plugin which can show many types of multimedia inside your browser. To accomplish this, it uses external programs such as MPlayer, xine, Evince, OpenOffice, TiMidity, etc. To modify or add applications to be used by MozPlugger just modify the {{ic|/etc/mozpluggerrc}} file.

Line 210:

Line 215:

}}

}}

−

For a more complete list of MozPlugger options see [http://www.linuxmanpages.com/man7/mozplugger.7.php this page].

+

To change the default of MPlayer so that [[mpv]] is used instead, change the appropriate lines such that:

[http://www.unix-ag.uni-kl.de/~fischer/kpartsplugin/ The KParts plugin] is a plugin that uses KDE's KPart technology to embed different file viewers in the browser, such as Okular (for PDF), Ark (for different archives), Calligra Words (for ODF), etc. It cannot use applications that are not based on the KPart technology.

The KParts plugin can be installed with the package {{Pkg|kpartsplugin}}, available in the official repositories.

+

For a more complete list of MozPlugger options see [http://www.linuxmanpages.com/man7/mozplugger.7.php this page].

== Troubleshooting ==

== Troubleshooting ==

Line 222:

Line 245:

=== Flash Player: no sound ===

=== Flash Player: no sound ===

−

Flash Player outputs its sound only through the default [[Advanced Linux Sound Architecture|ALSA]] device, which is number '''0'''. If you have multiple sound devices (a very common example is having a sound card and HDMI output in the video card), then your preferred device may have a different number.

+

Flash Player outputs its sound only through the default [[ALSA]] device, which is number '''0'''. If you have multiple sound devices (a very common example is having a sound card and HDMI output in the video card), then your preferred device may have a different number.

For a list of available devices with their respective numbers, run:

For a list of available devices with their respective numbers, run:

Line 258:

Line 281:

and restart the browser to see if it helps.

and restart the browser to see if it helps.

−

=== Flash Player: bad (choppy) sound on the 64-bit version ===

+

=== Flash Player: performance ===

−

There is a problem with Flash plugin 11 on 64-bit systems and a new {{ic|memcpy}} routine in {{Pkg|glibc}} (for more details see [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id&#;638477 this Fedora bug report]), which makes the sound choppy on MP3 streams. Current workarounds are:

+

Adobe's Flash plugin has some serious performance issues, especially when CPU frequency scaling is used. There seems to be a policy not to use the whole CPU workload, so the frequency scaling governor does not clock the CPU any higher. To work around this issue, see [[CPU frequency scaling#Switching threshold]]

−

* replacing the {{ic|memcpy}} routine as suggested in [http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=258346 this thread].

−

* installing {{AUR|flashplugin-square}} from the [[AUR]] (this is a version of the Flash plugin with working hardware acceleration).

−

=== Flash Player: performance ===

+

=== Flash Player: no webcam, or low webcam resolution ===

−

Adobe's Flash plugin has some serious performance issues, especially when CPU frequency scaling is used. There seems to be a policy not to use the whole CPU workload, so the frequency scaling governor does not clock the CPU any higher. To work around this issue, see [[cpufrequtils#Changing the ondemand governor's threshold|Cpufrequtils]]

+

If Flash doesn't detect your webcam at all, or it has low resolution (the image looks very pixelated), you can try starting your browser with this:

−

=== Flash Player: low webcam resolution ===

+

$ LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so <browser>

−

If your webcam has low resolution in Flash (the image looks very pixelated) you can try starting your browser with this:

+

This is because Flash still uses the V4L1 camera API, long deprecated, and via the above we give it a compatibility layer which it needs.

To fix this, you can use the "hack" described [http://al.robotfuzz.com/content/workaround-fullscreen-flash-linux-multiheaded-desktops here]. Simply download the source from the link given on the page, and follow the instructions in the README.

To fix this, you can use the "hack" described [http://al.robotfuzz.com/content/workaround-fullscreen-flash-linux-multiheaded-desktops here]. Simply download the source from the link given on the page, and follow the instructions in the README.

−

−

{{Tip|The hack is available in the [[AUR]] and can be installed with the {{AUR|fullscreenhack}} package.}}

{{Note|While the author mentions using NVDIA's TwinView, the hack should work for any multi-monitor setup.}}

{{Note|While the author mentions using NVDIA's TwinView, the hack should work for any multi-monitor setup.}}

−

−

=== Flash Player: blue tint on videos with NVIDIA ===

−

−

An issue with {{Pkg|flashplugin}} versions 11.2.202.228-1 and 11.2.202.233-1 causes it to send the U/V panes in the incorrect order resulting in a blue tint on certain videos. Version 0.5 of {{Pkg|libvdpau}} includes a workaround to fix this, see the [http://lists.x.org/archives/xorg-announce/2012-September/002066.html official announcement].

−

−

=== Flash Player: leaking overlay with NVIDIA ===

−

−

This bug is due to the incorrect color key being used by the {{Pkg|flashplugin}} version 11.2.202.228-1 (see [http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=2514210&postcount=102 this post] on the NVIDIA forums) and causes the Flash content to "leak" into other pages or solid black backgrounds. To avoid this issue simply export {{ic|1=VDPAU_NVIDIA_NO_OVERLAY=1}} within either your shell profile (e.g. {{ic|~/.bash_profile}} or {{ic|~/.zprofile}}) or {{ic|~/.xinitrc}}

=== Flash Player: videos not working on older systems ===

=== Flash Player: videos not working on older systems ===

Line 296:

Line 306:

$ grep sse2 /proc/cpuinfo

$ grep sse2 /proc/cpuinfo

−

If no results are returned, then you need to install an older version of Flash (for example 10.3, or 11.1). Older versions possibly will have vulnerabilities. You should then consider sandboxing Firefox using {{AUR|sandfox}}, available in the [[AUR]]. See the [https://igurublog.wordpress.com/downloads/script-sandfox/ sandfox homepage] for usage information.

+

{{Expansion|sandfox is unmaintained and only uses rudimentary sandboxing; use a modern alternative like [https://github.com/thestinger/playpen playpen] instead. Or even better, circument the issue with external players like [[mpv]]}}

+

+

If no results are returned, then you need to install an older version of Flash (for example 10.3, or 11.1). Older versions possibly will have vulnerabilities. You should then consider sandboxing Firefox using the {{AUR|sandfox}} package See the [https://igurublog.wordpress.com/downloads/script-sandfox/ sandfox homepage] for usage information.

Older versions of Flash are available here:

Older versions of Flash are available here:

−

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

+

https://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

You need to copy {{ic|libflashplayer.so}} to the folder {{ic|/usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/}}

You need to copy {{ic|libflashplayer.so}} to the folder {{ic|/usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/}}

−

Older {{Pkg|flashplugin}} packages can be downloaded from the [[AUR]] e.g. {{AUR|flashplugin-nosse2}}. Alternatively you can install {{AUR|flashplugin-sse2-nosse2}} which can be used on CPUs with and without SSE2.

+

The most recent package without SSE2 is {{ic|flashplugin-11.1.102.63-1-i686.pkg.tar.xz}}. If you use the packaged version, you have to add {{ic|IgnorePkg &#61; flashplugin}} to {{ic|/etc/pacman.conf}}.

+

+

=== Flash Player: plugin version still shown older version after upgrade ===

The most recent package without SSE2 is {{ic|flashplugin-11.1.102.63-1-i686.pkg.tar.xz}}. If you use the packaged version, you have to add {{ic|IgnorePkg &#61; flashplugin}} to {{ic|/etc/pacman.conf}}.

Some Flash apps may require the ttf-ms-fontsAUR package in order to properly render text.

The freshplayerpluginAUR package provides an experimental adapter to use pepper-flash with NPAPI based browsers like Firefox. It can be configured (e.g. for enabling HW-acceleration) by copying /usr/share/freshplayerplugin/freshwrapper.conf.example to ~/.config/freshwrapper.conf.

Multiple monitor full-screen fix

When using a multiple monitor setup, or swapping between virtual desktops, it is possible to lose focus on a fullscreen flash window. In such a case, the adobe flash-plugin will automatically exit full-screen mode. This may not be to your liking.

Unfortunately, this behavior is hard coded into the binary. In order to change this behavior it is necessary to alter the binary.

Fixing this issue only works for the NPAPI plugin and this issue can be fixed via 2 ways.

Then, you will need to alter that file using a hex editor like ghex. You must open it with root privileges obviously.

# ghex /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libflashplayer.so

Using the hex editor find the string _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW. In ghex the readable string is on the right hand side of the window, and the hex is on the left, you are trying to locate the readable string. It should be easy to find using a search function.

Upon finding _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW rewrite the line, but do not change the length of the line, for example _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW becomes _XET_ACTIVE_WINDOW.

Save the binary, and restart any processes using the plugin (as this will crash any instance of the plugin in use.)

Playing DRM-protected content

Shumway

Shumway is a discontinued HTML5 technology experiment that explores building a faithful and efficient renderer for the SWF file format without native code assistance. The plugin may be installed directly from Mozilla's github.io site.

Gnash

Gnash is a free (libre) alternative to Adobe Flash Player. It is available both as a standalone player for desktop computers and embedded devices, as well as a browser plugin, and supports the SWF format up to version 7 (with versions 8 and 9 under development) and about 80% of ActionScript 2.0.

Lightspark

Lightspark is another attempt to provide a free alternative to Adobe Flash aimed at supporting newer Flash formats. Lightspark has the ability to fall back on Gnash for old content, which enables users to install both and enjoy wider coverage. Although it is still very much in development, it supports some popular sites.

Pipelight

Multimedia playback

Many browsers support the GStreamer framework to play multimedia inside HTML5 <audio> and <video> elements. Check the optional dependencies of the browser package (or of the web engine, e.g. webkit2gtk or qt5-webkit) to see if GStreamer is supported. See GStreamer#Installation for the description of each plugin.

youtube-dl

Install Watch with MPV for playback of supported sites with an external player of your choice (mpv by default). Add --player-operation-mode=pseudo-gui to Additional player parameters for websites with audio only streams.

Google Hangouts

Hangouts plugin can be installed with the google-talkpluginAUR package.
Hangouts is a messenger by Google, that allows you to make video call between 15 people simultaneously, or share your screen with others.

MozPlugger

MozPlugger is a Mozilla plugin which can show many types of multimedia inside your browser. To accomplish this, it uses external programs such as MPlayer, xine, Evince, OpenOffice, TiMidity, etc. To modify or add applications to be used by MozPlugger just modify the /etc/mozpluggerrc file.

For example, MozPlugger uses OpenOffice by default to open doc files. To change it to use LibreOffice instead, look for the OpenOffice section:

Troubleshooting

Flash Player: no sound

Flash Player outputs its sound only through the default ALSA device, which is number 0. If you have multiple sound devices (a very common example is having a sound card and HDMI output in the video card), then your preferred device may have a different number.

In this case, the HDMI output is card 0 and the sound card is card 1. To make your sound card the default for ALSA, create the file .asoundrc in your home directory, with the following content:

~/.asoundrc

pcm.!default {
type hw
card 1
}
ctl.!default {
type hw
card 1
}

Flash Player: blocking sound for other applications or delayed playback

If sound is delayed within Flash videos or Flash stops sound from any other application, then make sure you do not have snd_pcm_oss module loaded:

$ lsmod | grep snd_pcm_oss

You can unload it:

# rmmod snd_pcm_oss

and restart the browser to see if it helps.

Flash Player: performance

Adobe's Flash plugin has some serious performance issues, especially when CPU frequency scaling is used. There seems to be a policy not to use the whole CPU workload, so the frequency scaling governor does not clock the CPU any higher. To work around this issue, see CPU frequency scaling#Switching threshold

Flash Player: no webcam, or low webcam resolution

If Flash doesn't detect your webcam at all, or it has low resolution (the image looks very pixelated), you can try starting your browser with this:

$ LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so <browser>

This is because Flash still uses the V4L1 camera API, long deprecated, and via the above we give it a compatibility layer which it needs.

The Flash plugin has a known bug where the full screen mode does not really work when you have a multi-monitor setup. Apparently, it incorrectly determines the full screen resolution, so the full screen Flash Player fills the correct monitor but gets scaled as if the monitor had the resolution of the total display area.

To fix this, you can use the "hack" described here. Simply download the source from the link given on the page, and follow the instructions in the README.

Note: While the author mentions using NVDIA's TwinView, the hack should work for any multi-monitor setup.

Flash Player: videos not working on older systems

If you have Adobe Flash installed on an older system and you start playing a video which simply turns black with nothing happening, it is most likely that your CPU does not support SSE2. You can simply check this by looking at your CPU flags with this command:

$ grep sse2 /proc/cpuinfo

This article or section needs expansion.

Reason: sandfox is unmaintained and only uses rudimentary sandboxing; use a modern alternative like playpen instead. Or even better, circument the issue with external players like mpv (Discuss in Talk:Browser plugins#)

If no results are returned, then you need to install an older version of Flash (for example 10.3, or 11.1). Older versions possibly will have vulnerabilities. You should then consider sandboxing Firefox using the sandfoxAUR package See the sandfox homepage for usage information.